Doors Now Wide Open for Christian Clubs at Nation's Schools

source: Religion News/ Crosswalk
Doors Now Wide Open for Christian Clubs at Nation's Schools
Allie Martin
A federal appeals court has ruled that a South Carolina public school
district violated the constitutional rights of a student-led Christian
club.

The unanimous decision (3-0) by the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals last week ruled that the Anderson School District Five had a
discriminatory policy against Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), which
sponsors Good News Clubs in elementary schools. CEF was charged a fee
to use school facilities, even though the district waived fees for
clubs such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, the local Democratic
Party, and other groups.

CEF of South Carolina was represented in the three-year legal battle
by Orlando-based Liberty Counsel. Mat Staver, founder and chairman of
the legal group, says the decision handed down by the appeals court is
solid.

"The court clearly had some great words to say that every public
school in America ought to heed," says Staver. "It says, for example,
that the government may not bar religious perspectives on otherwise
permitted subjects, and that communities of faith may not be
arbitrarily excluded from the protections of the free-speech clause."

In short, said the court ruling, "speech is not to be selectively
permitted or proscribed according to official preference." Overall,
the court "hit the bullseye," says the Christian attorney.

"Government cannot treat religious group unfavorably compared to other
groups," he states. "Equal access is the law, and equal access means
equal treatment in every respect."

Staver contends that Christians clubs have a positive influence on
public school campuses and should not be harassed. In fact, he feels
they should be welcomed with open arms.

"I think it's ironic as these schools hassle the Good News Clubs,
because they're great organizations," Staver shares. "They teach
character, they teach morality, they teach right and wrong, they teach
respect, and they do it all from a Christian viewpoint -- and the
kids' lives are literally changed."

The Liberty Counsel founder believes the ruling now opens the doors
for Good News Clubs and other Christian clubs in public schools
nationwide. The case was Child Evangelism Fellowship v. Anderson
School District Five.

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